Let’s face it—default font options can be a bit…boring. Firing up another Google Docs file with Arial or the archaic Times New Roman lacks that flair.
Despite the host of default fonts available on the Google Docs app, it may be necessary to look for other fonts. Luckily, the platform offers several easy ways to expand your font library and spice up your document’s style.
Read this guide on multiple methods of adding new fonts to Google Docs. Along the way, we’ll share some Google Docs hacks to help you simplify your workflow.
Plus, stick around as we explore some excellent Google Docs alternatives for those seeking even more customization options.
How to Add Custom Fonts to Google Docs
Why Add Fonts to Google Docs?
Fonts are intrinsically linked with identities, not just for actual brands but for individuals, too. From students with a signature style to professionals aiming to boost brand identity by adding custom fonts, the idea remains to make your content stand out.
If you run a business, it could be crucial for you to maintain consistent branding across all your documents. Plus, adding a custom font helps give your work a polished and unique look.
So, let’s look at how you can add extensive fonts to Google Docs.
👀 Did You Know? Google Docs evolved from Writely, a web-based word processor developed by Upstartle in 2005.
How to Add Fonts to Google Docs
Arial is usually the default font option on Google Docs, but the font dropdown menu contains multiple others. And if these available fonts do not work for you, here’s what you need to do:
Method 1: Adding built-in fonts
Google Docs already offers an extensive collection of fonts—over 1,400—which can be accessed directly from the toolbar.
- Navigate to the font menu dropdown in the toolbar
- Click More Fonts at the top of the menu
- Once the dialog box appears, browse the options and pick the new font you wish to add to Google Docs
- Press OK to confirm your choice, and voila! The new font is now part of your Google Doc!
💡Pro Tip: If you have a specific style for your business (fonts and sizes), you’ll want to adjust your settings accordingly. This is beneficial because if you define text as a Heading 2 and later decide to change its appearance, the changes will automatically apply to all text formatted as Heading 2.
Method 2: Installing add-ons for additional fonts
Google Workspace Marketplace offers font-related add-ons that can significantly expand your options.
- Go to the Extensions menu and click Add-ons > Get Add-ons
- Search for different fonts in the Google Workspace Marketplace
- Click Install to install fonts from the add-on.
- Once you have installed fonts, access the add-on icon through the Extensions menu to browse an expanded library of fonts
🧠 Fun Fact: Typing /shrug followed by the Enter key adds the classic shrug emoji ¯(ツ)/¯ to your document. It’s a fun way to lighten the tone in informal documents.
Method 3: Using external tools for font integration
If the built-in fonts and add-ons don’t meet your requirements and you decide to customize Google Docs further, external tools like Google Fonts can help.
- Visit Google Fonts to browse thousands of free, customizable fonts
- Download the desired font to your computer
- Use a tool like Microsoft Word or Canva to implement the font in your design. Then, import the finished product into Google Docs
💡Pro Tip: Under the Tools menu, activate Voice Typing to dictate your document instead of typing. It’s a lifesaver for multitaskers and fast thinkers!
Although you can add multiple fonts from add-ons and external tools, you can’t add your custom fonts to Google Docs.
Limitations of Using Google Docs for Customization
Google Docs has some notable limitations that might leave you looking for alternatives.
Here are some of the key limitations you might encounter:
- Basic page layouts: Google Docs lacks advanced page design features. You can’t easily customize layouts with columns, grids, or layered elements, limiting its use for creative documents like brochures or newsletters ❌
- Static templates: Although Google Docs provides a range of templates, they are fairly basic. Unlike more advanced platforms, there’s no robust feature for creating highly personalized or interactive templates ❌
- Limited integration for advanced features: While Google Docs integrates well with Google Workspace, it doesn’t natively support advanced tools like mind mapping, advanced analytics, or robust project tracking that many team collaboration software platforms offer ❌
- File compatibility challenges: Complex file formats, such as those with intricate tables or formatting from Microsoft Word, don’t always translate well into Google Docs, leading to formatting errors ❌
📮 Insight: We recently discovered that about 33% of knowledge workers message 1 to 3 people daily to get the context they need. But what if you had all the information documented and readily available?
With Brain’s AI Knowledge Manager by your side, context switching becomes a thing of the past. Simply ask the question, and Brain will pull up the information from your workspace and/or connected third-party apps!
Creating Custom Pages and Documents with
What if you could connect all your Docs, tasks, and Chats in one place without switching contexts?
A great Google Docs alternative, is the everything app for work. It combines project management, documents, and team communication in one platform, accelerated by next-generation AI automation and search.
Docs
If you’ve ever felt limited by Google Docs when creating flexible, professional, and visually engaging documents, it is time to check out Docs.
With Docs, you get a full-featured document editor packed with customization options for creating crystal-clear pages and Docs, right in your workspace.
To structure your content visually, you can add tables with custom styling, syntax-highlighted code blocks spanning dozens of languages, color-coded banners and separators, and multiple columns—perfect for drawing attention to important updates or critical information.
Here are some fonts that offers:
But if you’re looking at adding a new font to an image or graphic, AI has you covered.
💡Pro Tip: Set font preferences on all pages within a Doc by clicking Apply typography to all pages.
Docs lets you do more than just write—you can customize page details to keep documents organized and easy to navigate.
Whether you’re managing project documentation, meeting notes, or team guidelines, gives you complete control over page properties.
Here are some key customization features:
- Rename pages easily to keep your doc structure clear and organized
- Rearrange pages with a simple drag-and-drop to create a logical flow
- Set Icons & Cover Images for better visual organization and quick identification
- Control Visibility by adjusting page permissions for teams or individuals
- Add Custom Properties like status, priority, or tags to categorize pages efficiently
You can also drop in images, YouTube videos, icons, and emojis—positioning and resizing them for perfect presentations.
And there’s more:
- Customizable pages and templates: Create the perfect document or wiki with nested pages, advanced styling options, and pre-designed templates. You can embed bookmarks and format your content to fit any purpose, from team roadmaps to detailed knowledge bases
- Real-time collaboration: Edit alongside your team in real time. Tag colleagues in comments, assign them action items, and even convert text into trackable tasks to keep projects moving forward
- Actionable buttons: Design customer-facing documents with customized buttons for clear, actionable steps, like linking to additional resources or triggering workflows
- Markdown shortcuts: Speed up your writing with Markdown tools, accessible via /Slash Commands. Add bullets, bold, italics, strikethroughs, and more—straight from your keyboard
- Sticky table of contents: Navigate large documents easily using a sticky table of contents that stays visible as you scroll, so you can jump between sections without losing your place
Brain
Additionally, combining Brain with Docs helps you refine your docs with AI Writer for Work.
With Brain, you can write smarter, faster, and better—whether drafting from scratch or improving existing content.
Here’s how you can use it to elevate your writing:
- Edit with AI: Highlight text and ask AI to rewrite it based on your instructions
- Improve writing: Enhance your content effortlessly, even if you’re not sure what needs fixing
- Fix spelling and grammar: Automatically clean up errors for polished writing
- Make longer: Add depth or detail to your ideas
- Make shorter: Refine text for clarity and conciseness
- Simplify writing: Transform complex content into something easier to read
- Summarize: Generate quick summaries of lengthy content
- Explain: Break down complex topics into simple terms
- Translate: Seamlessly convert text into multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and more
Explore Smart Document Solutions with
Adding fonts to your Google Docs is a straightforward way to elevate your documents, whether you use the built-in options, install add-ons, or incorporate external tools like Google Fonts.
Each method has perks, such as letting you customize your text to match your style. However, as we have explored, Google Docs does have its limitations, especially when it comes to advanced customization and design flexibility.
That’s where tools like come into play. lets you create fully customized documents while seamlessly linking them to tasks, workflows, and collaboration tools.
From styling options and real-time editing to embedding actionable buttons and assigning tasks directly from your Doc, takes document creation to the next level.
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